“On Following Our Roots-15: Zeki Velidi Togan” event was organized by the Turkish Learning Research and Application Center of our university. Our Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız, Zeki Velidi Togan's son, Bilkent University Economics Department Emeritus Professor. Dr. Sübidey Togan, as a speaker Ege University Faculty of Letters Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Serkan Acar, academicians and students attended.

Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız made the opening speech of the programme. Our Rector started his speech by conveying his greetings and respects to the participants and thanked those who contributed to the organisation of the programme. Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız reminded Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's words "Those who do not know their past cannot steer the future" and mentioned the importance of absolute understanding of the past for the construction of the future.

Speaker Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Acar started his speech by conveying his greetings to the participants. Underlining that Zeki Velidi Togan is an important scientist and politician in Turkish history, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Acar said that Zeki Velidi Togan studied at a madrasa in Bashkortostan (Kazan), where he learned Arabic and Persian and was interested in Arabic and Persian literature. Underlining that Zeki Velidi Togan spoke Russian as well as Turkish, Arabic and Persian, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Acar emphasised that he went to St. Petersburg to do scientific research.

Underlining that Zeki Velidi Togan put scientific research at the center of his life, Assoc. Dr. Serkan Acar stated that he was also in a political atmosphere. Underlining that Zeki Velidi Togan taught and made studies at Istanbul Darülfünun for a while, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Acar added that he has been started to be rediscovered by young people.

The program ended after the question-answer session.